20191010
The required braces were prepared before hand by splitting and ripping from the stock and then planed to size.
Usually splitting produce more waste but it can ensure that there is no run out on the brace stock
If the supplies were obtained from a good supplier, you can afford to rip it instead of split it.
Of course that depends on your guitar building principles.
When the braces are prepared, I lay them out on the top.
Also I draw the bracing on the top and cut the braces to length.
For this build, I will also be using carbon fibre in addition, in order to reinforce the top more.
I had some wonderful experience in terms of using CF on wood and would like to try out on guitar.
The first step using CF is to glue the tow onto the top first using epoxy diluted with alcohol.
Then the brace will glue on top of the CF tow.
Finally the brace is capped with the CF
This will produce a very stiff braces in general.
However a good tuned top is neither overly stiff nor loose, so the balance must be there.
When optimally tuned, the final mass will be lesser than the normal braced top.
For this build I also modified my go-bar deck.
I make it stiffer and cleaner easier to use.
Laying out the bracing pattern. This is my bracing pattern
My modified go-bar deck
"Painting" the carbon fibre tow onto to the top.
Carbon fibre base all done.
Gluing the centre 3 braces
20191022
The bracing stage is always done in stages, as we need to carve the braces.
If not sometimes the other braces are in the way of the carving.
For my case, I carved the centre 3 braces and next will be gluing the Bouchet brace.
The Bouchet brace need to fit over the centre 3 braces.
But for the outer brace the outer fan brace will fit over the Bouchet brace instead as it decrease i
n height at the ends
Preparing the traverse brace aka Bouchet brace
Carving the centre 3 braces
Fitting the Bouchet brace over the fan brace
Gluing the outer brace.
Gluing the lower bout traverse brace after fitting the centre fan braces. This brace also commonly known as the Bouchet brace.
Shaping the traverse brace
20191031
Gluing the last 2 outer fan braces
Another view. Note that the fan brace is overlapping the Bouchet brace instead.
The braces carved.
A closer look at the outer braces
From the other side
Gluing of the treble bar.
20191107
The braces were carved to shape and tapping measurements were taken and compared to ensure of the optimal stiffness.
Bracings carved
another angle
another angle
20191113
Next the sound-hole reinforcement donut is glued.
There is some difficulty here as the bracing extends into the reinforcement.
Also there donut need to cater for the gluing of the tornavoz.
Gluing of the sound hole reinforcement donut.
20191128
Next the tornavoz is made and glued into a ring.
And some reinforcement veneer is glued to the top which also beautify the top.
Glued the veneer to the top
Glue the tornavoz into a ring.
Tornavoz done.
20191219
The 2 side braces are glued next.
Gluing of the side braces
20191224
Silent night! Next the 2 main traverse brace is made.
I use a lighter material to make the traverse and intend to wrap it with CF to increase the strength.
Making of the 2 main support traverse brace
20200103
Next the 2 traverse brace is wrapped in CF cloth.
Traverse brace being wrapped in CF cloth
The final part being glued
20200116
The traverse braces is glued to the top and the entire top weight is measured.
Top total weight is about 197g which is within the expected range.
The 2 braces are glued to the top.
